It was much too warm; the heat was stifling. A great weight seemed to lie across Edileth's body. She struggled to open her eyes to see what was crushing her. A small, pained moan rose in her throat.

A rocky sort of ceiling loomed above.

Where am I?

She had a sudden vision of Yena, a healer from one of the port cities on the north-eastern shores of Gael-Narenth. Yena had always been in attendance at the larger Ferlian gatherings, and Edileth had liked her almost immediately upon their first meeting.

She has arrived, then, thought Edileth. Or else, it was another strange dream.

Hoping to confirm that Yena had arrived, Edileth struggled to make her aching muscles lift her into a sitting position. A dull, throbbing in her side sharpened into a stabbing pain and Edileth winced, dropping back to the ground.

She steadied her breathing and made a second attempt at sitting up. This time she managed to sit up – gritting her teeth and groaning – and glance about the little, partially destroyed enclosure she found herself in.

Just less than a meter beyond her feet, a little fire crackled. Yena slept to her right, and Edileth released a heavy sigh of relief. She lifted her hand to remove the blanket that had seemed so constricting. However, as she did so she noticed two things.

The first was that – at some point during her state of delirium – Edileth had been changed into a thin chemise of sorts. She gave a little shiver as she felt the cool air stir about her bared shoulders and arms.

The second thing which fell to Edileth's observance was that Joenek lay to her left. He was quite close and facing her so that, if she were to lie back down, Edileth felt certain she would land upon his face. A frown formed on her face, and she drew the blanket up to cover the low neckline of the chemise.

"You're awake, at last."

Edileth turned to Yena and revealed a small smile. She opened her mouth to speak. Instead, an awful croak grated from Edileth's mouth. Yena chortled and patted her hand.

"Let us quench that thirst," said she. "Here, drink this."

Yena lifted a waterskin to Edileth's lips. The cool water slid down her throat like a bit of paradise washing over her thick, dry tongue. She gulped the water hungrily, not wanting to stop until she was full of the divine liquid. Yena, however, pulled the waterskin away.

"Not all at once, my dear. We don't need you drowning."

Edileth nigh gasped for breath. She wiped the back of her hand against the droplets of moisture that had spilt onto her lower lip and chin.

"I apologize." Her voice came out as a rasping, grating whisper. "I couldn't seem to stop myself."

"You've no need to apologize, dear. Now, let us work on getting a little food in that belly of yours."

As Yena shuffled toward the fire, Edileth cleared her throat.

"How many days have passed since I fell ill?"

"Some three days," answered Yena.

"Truly? What of the others? They have not yet arrived?"

"No, indeed; 'tis troubling news. I pray they have not come against such trials as you have, for we shall have need of their skills."

"What skills are those?"

Edileth scowled when Joenek raised his question. She heard him moving beside her but refused to look at him. Yena smiled and addressed him.

"Good evening, Joenek. The hour grows late, but as you can see, our dear Edileth has finally risen."

Joenek's eyes bored into Edileth. She finally turned, then, and glared at him. A lopsided grin appeared on his face.

"I am glad to see you awake. I wasn't sure you were going to make it."

Edileth lifted her chin and returned her gaze to Yena. The healer, in turn, responded to Joenek's question.

"Those who are to come have been selected by the Fíthni for their abilities. We shall soon be in the company of a scholar, an inventor, a Kenim Naduhl, and an animal-speaker."

"A Kenim Naduhl?" Joenek nearly bounced beside Edileth. She looked askance and lifted a brow at his exuberance. "I am an apprenticing ranger – or was before I left La'el. I can hardly wait to meet this elf."

Joenek turned his smiling face toward Edileth. His smile soon vanished under her withering gaze.

Yena brought a bowl of broth to Edileth and offered to serve Joenek, as well. He declined and Edileth was left to eat in quiet while Yena worked on some sort of herbal concoction. When Edileth had finished her small meal, Yena came to her side again and retrieved the bowl.

"Joenek, dear, might I persuade you to assist me in moving Edileth to a more comfortable location?"

"I do not require his help." Edileth's reply was sharp and quick. She attempted to stand but found that her limbs ached more fiercely than they had when she first woke.

"All evidence would point to the contrary, my dear."

Edileth grumbled, but in the end she acquiesced. Joenek squatted behind her and placed his forearms beneath her arms. As he gave a lifting tug, she fought the urge to cry out in agony. She barely managed to reduce her expression of pain to a strangled groan, her face contorting into a tight grimace.

"Oh, dear-dear," said Yena. "I'm afraid this simply will not do. Edileth, child, can you manage?"

"I can," Edileth ground out. "Do it quickly and let's be done with it."

Joenek resumed pulling her. He brought Edileth to lean against the corner that the wall and a large block of rubble made.

"Thank you, Joenek," said Yena. She then proceeded to shoo him away. "Now, if you please, leave this place. Perhaps go and bathe; there is a natural hot spring on the opposite side of the town. It is the largest tunnel on the North wall and goes straight to the baths, so you need not concern yourself about becoming lost."

Though she was annoyed by Joenek's presence, Edileth could not keep the smile at bay when he looked down at himself. Yena seemed to be hinting that he needed to do something about his grungy, unkempt appearance. Grumbling something under his breath, Joenek snatched his pack from the floor and left the alcove.

"I thought you might prefer some privacy. And, of course, I must check your wounds and rebandage them."

Edileth expressed her gratitude and allowed Yena to lower the blankets.

"I am sorry about your indecent attire," Yena said as she noticed the look on Edileth's face. "However, I needed to tend your wounds easily, and this sort of chemise works splendidly for such purposes."

Yena placed her supplies down and unbuttoned the side of the chemise. Edileth felt an odd shiver trickle up her back as the gossamer fabric glided across her arms and down her back. Though a fair portion of her torso was wrapped, Edileth still felt exposed.

She felt her gaze drift toward the entrance of their little niche, as if expecting Joenek to be standing there watching.

Working with hands that had healed countless injuries, Yena made quick work of redressing Edileth's wounds. She had checked the cracked rib on Edileth's left side, cleaned the gashes, put fresh herbal paste on them, and wrapped everything again with fresh linen.

"There, now," Yena said. "How do you feel?"

"I feel like two lerecht used me for a game of tug-and-toss."

Yena laughed at Edileth's comparison.

In truth, Edileth had yet to encounter a lerecht. But she recalled a tale she had once heard as a young girl. Kerriff – the previous Captain of the Guard of Kerindh – had shared many of his grand adventures in the varying countries of Naine Mithale. One such tale was concerning the bestial, canine-like creatures that were bred for Akkheron's elaborathin soldiers; few elves dared to ride the unpredictable brutes.

A hand upon Edileth's shoulder pulled her from her thoughts. Yena smiled at her.

"I thank Feridh for his protection; He alone saved your life. The amount of toxin your body absorbed – and going so long untreated – should have killed you."

A gravity fell over the two rothnash. Edileth recalled rousing from the fog at one point and feeling certain that she would die. But just as fear started to claw at her heart, a peculiar warmth filled her, and a golden light surrounded her. Then she had seen Yena's face and she fell into a deep slumber.

"Of course," said Edileth, "it probably wouldn't have happened if Joenek had not decided to join me."

"No, indeed. Had Joenek not been with you, I feel certain we might have found your body."

Edileth glanced up at the firm tone of Yena's voice.

"Though I admit I was concerned when I discovered that you had travelled from La'el accompanied by a strange roth, I now believe that Repind knew you would have need of Joenek. Do not treat him so harshly."

"He's a fool; a child, really."

"Yes, he does seem to lack maturity in some regards," Yena conceded. "Be as that may, we should show patience towards him. Would you treat a child as you now treat him?"

Edileth scoffed. "I do not deal with children; I am Captain of the Guard. I train rothni to fight. And were he under my command, Joenek would learn discipline or else find himself doing drills until he collapsed."

"Hush, now, Edileth. There's no sense in getting so worked up over it; what's done is done. Your task is to swallow some of your pride and learn to get on with other elves. And I think that is precisely why Repind suggested Joenek join us in this venture."

Edileth bristled at Yena's words. Though her words had been stern, Yena looked at Edileth and smiled.

"My dear, the sooner we let go of the illusion of control, the sooner we can learn to fully trust Feridh. It is not easy; it does not come naturally. But it is rewarding, in the end."

Edileth sighed and nodded her head once. Yena laughed and patted Edileth's shoulder before standing.

"Tell me, child; how did Joenek obtain the Hibh en Gredhe in the first place?"

Groaning at the memory, Edileth recounted the events that led to his retrieving the orb from the walkway in La'el. She finished her tale with a few more insults at Joenek's intellect and swordsmanship, immediately regretting the words that came from her lips. Yena studied her for a moment before responding.

"And yet, if he had not retrieved it, the elaborathin could well be on their return journey to Si-ol."

Edileth's mouth tilted downward and she grumbled. "I would not have let them escape."

Yena laughed. "I do not doubt it. But rest now, child; you are yet weak from the bekhron poison."

Hours later, Edileth awoke from her slumber feeling quite refreshed. Pale, early-morning light shone through the entrance and brightened the alcove. She stretched, releasing a small yawn. Though her body was still weary, Edileth found that she could move more freely. Delighted by this discovery, she started to stand.

"Eager to be up and about, are you?" Yena chortled. "I'm sure you shall be leaping about like an oleadh in no time. But first, let us provide nourishment to that healing body of yours. And you may wish to don this."

Edileth had quite forgotten about her attire; the length of which barely reached mid-thigh. Thanking Yena, she took the cloak that was offered and draped it over her shoulders.

"While it is a wonderful compliment to be compared to such a majestic creature, I do not find it likely that I shall be so well healed. This rib will take some time to heal."

After eating a hearty meal, it was suggested that Edileth venture to the baths. Yena offered to assist her, but Edileth responded with a sharp refusal.

"I am not an infant that you should look after me so thoroughly. I have endured far worse wounds than this."

Joenek – who had been exploring the ruinous buildings in the main cavern – entered the alcove just as Edileth was preparing to leave. His eyes widened when he saw her, and he drew close.

"Are you well enough to be walking around? Shouldn't you rest more?"

She tilted her head as she turned to look at him. Lifting one of her brows, she snapped at Joenek.

"I am not some feeble-minded, whimpering court lady. I have broken bones, I have tasted the sting of a blade more times than I can count, and I have bested rothni twice your size."

Without waiting for a response, Edileth departed the niche. She had not made it two meters when there came a high, chirruping sort of call from above. Turning, Edileth saw a small silhouette crouched at the entrance of the cavern.

"Rikku has arrived," said Yena.

After a few moments, the diminutive elf had made her way down the steps and approached the three. Edileth had met Rikku only once before. She had thought then – as she recalled now, upon seeing her again – that Rikku's small frame made her look rather like a child.

Her long hair was a rich, earthy brown and had an untamed look to it; curled locks sweeping in attractive disarray. Her dark, brown eyes reminded Edileth of a fawn. These rested above a small, pointed nose; delicate, rosy lips completed Rikku's spritely appearance.

"Greetings, dear Rikku." Yena stepped forward and embraced her.

"Oh, Yena, 'ow I 'ave missed you. Only zee ozer day I was speaking of you."

"Were you, indeed?" Yena asked. "Pray tell, did you speak with another elf? Or, perchance, was it an odd rabbit or bird or some such creature?"

"It was an 'etfeet." Rikku said, blushing. She then explained how she had told the hetfith – a bird of prey – where she had learned her healing skills while she mended his injured wing.

"I thought so." Yena laughed and gave Rikku another hug. "I am glad to see my teaching has been put to such good use."

The two turned and Rikku dipped her head toward Edileth.

"Greetings, Edilet. It 'as been some time since last we met, 'as it not?"

Edileth acknowledged Rikku with a nod. "Two summers, as I recall."

"And this," said Yena, gesturing to Joenek, "is an unexpected member of our party."

Rikku became shy and stood partially behind Yena. She revealed a small smile and bobbed her head in greeting. Yena chortled and patted Rikku's hand.

"Never fear, my dear. He seems to be a kind lad. His name is Joenek and he hails from La'el, was it?" She then gestured toward Rikku. "This is Rikku, daughter of Gemille, animal-speaker of Silán, the grand forest city of Minét."

Once everyone had said their greetings, Yena ushered Rikku and Joenek into the alcove for a meal. Edileth, however, started in the opposite direction.

Author's note: This chapter has undergone drastic revision (as of 2021-01-04). Future chapters may not reflect some of these changes. Your patience and understanding are so appreciated.